Debates and Forums

The last two weeks gave us a great opportunity to showcase the difference between my candidacy and the ones of my opponents. Yes, we’re always fighting the snub from the mainstream media and the lack of fundraising dollars but we definitely have a surplus when it comes to debating. It’s easy when you’re on the right side of the issues.

Our first debate/forum was back on May 23rd in Greene County but we finished the primary season with a flash with five in a two week period. Barry and I were at all of them. Paul made it to three.

The two biggies in the bunch were the one sponsored by the Elberton Star in Elbert County and the AARP debate in Habersham County. All three of us were present for these two and the moderators did a good job of making sure we covered the most critical topics of this campaign.

One thing became apparent during these debates; even a country boy is smart enough to compete with a doctor and a lawyer if his heart is in the right place. I challenge the winner of their primary to debate me in every county in this district. The voters deserve an opportunity to see us in person and hear our views on working to solve real problems in this country.

This campaign is about getting rid of partisan politics in this country. I know it’s an uphill battle but I believe in my heart that it’s a battle worth fighting. Our country is too divided right now and the extreme left and extreme right are to blame. We have to find a way to work together to solve real problems in this country. We must reach across the aisle, look people in the eye, tell them the truth, and get along long enough to do the right thing for our country. I believe this…. I hope you do as well.

Now’s the Time!

Command and General Staff College (CGSC)

It's been a couple weeks since I blogged but I have a great reason. I've been away for military training.

I just returned from Fort Dix, New Jersey. I was there for two weeks completing the final training classes that were required to prepare me for promotion to Lieutenant Colonel (LTC).

I've been a Major in the Georgia Army National Guard for just a tad over four years now. Each step of the promotion ladder requires additional training in addition to good Officer Evaluation Reports (OER's). The training to prepare me for promotion to LTC is called Intermediate Level Education (ILE) and is provided through the Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC).
The training focused on the Strategic, Operational, and Tactical levels of war. The course was a six week course spread over the course of a year. It was divided into three parts; a two week course focusing on the Strategic level of war; eight weekends of training that focused on the Operational level of war; and the final two weeks focusing on the Tactical level of war.

I've been back in the National Guard for nearly seven years and this is the third school that I have attended in order to progress in my career. The other schools were the Field Artillery Officers Advanced Course (FAOAC) and the Combined Arms Services Staff School (CAS3). In addition to these schools I've also attended Air Assault School and completed the Military Police Transition Course in the last few years. Being a well educated officer is a must in today's military.

I know this training is valuable. I applied much of it when I commanded Service Battery, 1/214th FA (Toccoa, GA) on a Homeland Security mission and during my year in Baghdad as the Battle Major for the Third Infantry Division (3ID). I'm sure this most recent training will be extremely valuable as I move forward in leadership positions. Maybe even as your next Congressman.

Now's the Time!